Rossington named as County’s first-choice keeper

Adam Rossington will start the season as Northamptonshire’s first-choice wicketkeeper.

He will take his place behind the stumps in tomorrow’s season-opener against Gloucestershire having convinced head coach David Ripley of his ability with the gloves.

Ripley, a man who knows a fair bit about the craft having kept wicket for the County in over 300 first-class matches, has decided Rossington gets the nod ahead of Ben Duckett and David Murphy despite having originally been more impressed with the former Middlesex man’s batting skills.

“Ben and Adam are both young men who have a lot of potential,” Ripley said.

“When we first signed Adam I hadn’t seen much of him keeping wicket.

“I really liked his batting and that is why we brought him in.

“He showed that was right because he was our best batsman last season.

“But he also proved he was a very good wicketkeeper as well.

“That is why he starts the season for us.”

It is a situation that might change as the summer goes on, though, as Ripley concedes.

He added: “We’ve got three high-quality guys in that position.

“It might not be the balance you want in a small squad but it does give options.

“We’re aware that as the season goes on it might create opportunities for all the guys. We just have to see how it works out.